Contributor: John Dorn

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Silver rocket sunshine
midcentury liquid
starbursting light
all googietime
all atomic-era gloss
big brass and pink lines
aquamarine seats
and vinyl
diner facades
good wages
good growth
and bigger is better
and all we need
and all we want
we make
we make
no matter the cost.


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Contributor: John Dorn

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Lay me down
let me rest
really rest
into complete convalescence
wash away everything
that keeps me on guard
that keeps me worried
leave me safe
wrapped only
in the arms
of the one I love
the life I love
let me drift
to the tunes
of truly chill music
and be, simply be
in perfect love
in perfect trust
in all ways
and always.


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Contributor: John Dorn

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Silver solvent
to make everything better
with black hair
black nails
strong hands
wet sex
and a moan
to curl toes

I could forget so much
wash away my many woes
with an evening between your thighs
trace your tattoos
with lines of mingled me
and you
until we become one
again
and again.


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Contributor: John Dorn

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At first it hurt
But I'm glad she waited
I'm glad she frothed and fumed
I'm glad she nearly threw away
The letter
The sentiment
The apology
Unread.

At first it hurt
But I'm glad she waited.
I'm glad she dated
I'm glad she grew disillusioned
Just in time
To think of me
To think of all I said
To think of all I meant
To her
And she
To me.

At first it hurt,
But I'm glad she waited
As if she knew I needed just a little longer
As if she knew
Gave me the space
Without suffering the pain
Without knowing my affairs were a mess
Until they were already fixed
Until everything was in order
And we could
(At last)
Really be together
Build our house
Build our family
Build up each other
Forever.


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Contributor: John Dorn

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If I could measure our moments
in footsteps,
in vistas we've seen,
streets crossed without silence
all ideas interwoven with quick salience
while feet trace trails,
trace places
like the field of oaks
like the bypass
(before it was built)
like lover's drop, its steep incline
Dowd, old town, down town
the rose gardens
the bike trails
that run through our old ville–

If I could trace
every movement
we spent walking, talking
see them all
in perfect clarity

I'd still be game for a hike
still be open
to talking about the stars
about work
about the slights,
the fights
the terrors
tremors
joys
of life.

Life–
ever unfolding.

Life–
all the memories
all the living
that comes
between footsteps.


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Contributor: John Dorn

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When the long-denied, tempting challenges come, you will be ready. The burning ticket to prison desperate to be poached, the huntress, lions hungry for soft meats, for glory and seed, the traps of rampant spending, of wasted gold invested into future trash. For you, there will be more opportunities than you can satiate. For you, the strength of David, never to stray into darkness despite all of your power. That is the message of the ring, the rite, the sight. That is the way of the unfolding soon today (tomorrow).


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Contributor: John Dorn

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Petals fall for the Lord of May.
Petals fall to make the path
Create the path
Guide the footsteps
Of the Lord of the Wood
Of the Lord of the Blossoms.

Petals fall
And I catch them
Scatter them on season's tide
Season's turning
Scatter them to a path
To guide the feet
Of life
Of joy
Guide
From me
From here
To you.


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